There Is Always Something Good

I am exhausted. Eyes feel like cotton balls, my head is spinning. The boots on my feet feel like they weigh 20 pounds each. Welcome to the day after parent-teacher conferences; a marathon of 5 minute conferences in a 4 hour span that leaves me feeling like I am not quite sure who I am or what I said. And still…

I may have rushed through every conversation. I may have not said everything I wanted to say. I may not have fulfilled every hope, that happens when you are held to a 5 minute time limit (middle school conferences at their best). I am not sure I was enough , the time definitely wasn’t, but I kn I know one thing for sure. I know that in every conference I brought up something good. I brought up something unique. Something that the child brings to our classroom, brings to my life. Every single child had something good mentioned. Every single child was worth celebrating.

Yes, there are goals and challenges, ups and downs that need to be discussed. Those pesky habits we are trying to break, those strong skills we are trying to teach. The strides we have to make, the plans we have to lay. But there is also good. And goodness in every child. Every child has something positive worth sharing. Every child is worth us smiling about. So even if the academics are in shambles, and who knew where those behaviors are coming from, look for the good, perhaps dig really deep, but remember, that these are children we get to talk about. Children who are learning what it means to be successful. Children who are learning from their mistakes. Children whose parents send us their very best child every day. Parents who need to hear that we see something worth believing in.

There is always something good to share, it is our job to uncover it. Just like our students uncover it in us every day. Just like parents believe in us every day. So dig deep if you must, but don’t give up. Uncover the goodness in each child. Uncover your belief that they can be good.

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Disclaimer

Of course these opinions, musings, rants and reflections do not express the opinion of my employer. One would be crazy to think that one single teacher could be the mouth piece for an entire district. Nor are my posts meant to offend mostly, nor mislead but rather provide a snapshot of my mind at a certain point in time on a topic.
So please feel free to disagree, agree, compliment or discourage further blogging but promise to not think this is in any way an official mode of communication for my employer. These are my opinions and while I stand behind them right now they may change so while you are at it, don't hold that against me either.

Pernille Ripp is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.